Most
dentists agree that toothpicks should be used sparingly as a method of
teeth cleaning and should never be considered a substitute for brushing
teeth and flossing. Fact is they should be used only when a toothbrush
or floss is not available, for example, when you are in a restaurant and
have food trapped between teeth.
Toothpicks that are used
overzealously can damage tooth enamel, lacerate gums, and even cause a
broken tooth in severe cases. People who have bonding or veneers can
chip or break them if they aren't careful. Overly aggressive use of
toothpicks can severely wear the roots of teeth, especially in cases
where gums have pulled away from the teeth and leave teeth with root
surfaces exposed, notably in the elderly.
Toothpicks date back to
3,500 BC when the earliest known oral hygiene kit featuring a toothbrush
was found at the Ningal Temple in Ur. In China, a curved pendant, made
of cast bronze was worn around the neck and used as a toothpick. In 536
BC, the Chinese mandated a law that required the use of the toothpick
because their armies suffered from bad breath. In the Old Testament, it
is written that "one may take a splinter from the wood lying near him to
clean his teeth."
Today, most toothpicks in
the United States come from "toothpick trees" in Maine. The tree is a
white birch which has its trunk cut into thin sheets that are cut again
to the thickness and length of toothpicks.
Dentists can tell when
they have a habitual toothpick user in their dental chair. There are the
tell-tale signs of toothpick marks. So use them if you have too, but
don't make it a habit. Brush and floss instead.
